Drug interactions
Benztropine + Diphenoxylate-atropine
Severity: Moderate
Benztropine and Diphenoxylate-atropine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both contribute antimuscarinic activity, so together they can cause dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, tachycardia, confusion and heat intolerance. Severe constipation or ileus can result, particularly in older people.
What this interaction means in plain words
Benztropine and Diphenoxylate-atropine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Benztropine belongs to Central Nervous System; Diphenoxylate-atropine belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Additive muscarinic receptor antagonism.
What to do
Monitor bowel and bladder function, temperature tolerance and mental status, and avoid the antidiarrheal if anticholinergic toxicity appears.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Diphenoxylate-atropine
- Diphenoxylate-atropine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Diphenoxylate-atropine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Diphenoxylate-atropine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Diphenoxylate-atropine Major
- Alvimopan + Diphenoxylate-atropine Major
- Amitriptyline + Diphenoxylate-atropine Major
Other interactions of Benztropine
- Benztropine + Memantine-donepezil Major
- Abobotulinumtoxina + Benztropine Moderate
- Amantadine + Benztropine Moderate
- Amitriptyline + Benztropine Moderate
- Amoxapine + Benztropine Moderate
- Atropine iv / + Benztropine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Benztropine with Diphenoxylate-atropine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Benztropine and Diphenoxylate-atropine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both contribute antimuscarinic activity, so together they can cause dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, tachycardia, confusion and heat intolerance. Severe constipation or ileus can result, particularly in older people.
How serious is the interaction between Benztropine and Diphenoxylate-atropine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor bowel and bladder function, temperature tolerance and mental status, and avoid the antidiarrheal if anticholinergic toxicity appears.
What other medicines interact with Diphenoxylate-atropine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Diphenoxylate-atropine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine. The full list is on the Diphenoxylate-atropine page.
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